Track for dog racing



July 6 1926. 1,591,797

L. G. THROCKMORT ON TRACK FOR DOG RACING Filed Nov. 20, 1925 2 Sheets$he et 1' gnwnkm;

Lamina G 73mhvon b| July 6 1926.

L. G. THROCKMORTON TRACK FOR oe RACING Filed NOV. 20 1925 auwzuloz mu'm 6? 721 0061112401: 1

I I I I I I II I an enticement for them,

course,

. erate, the result being 5 end of the home the home stretch, and to the starting Patented July 6,

meme LUSION o. THRoexmome-N, on Tampa, swarm. I

TRACK FOB nos moms.

Application filed November 20, 1825. Serial No. 70,374.

This invention relates to tracks for dog racing and particularly to that type of track in which a mechanical rabbit or lure run in front of the dogs throughout the race as and withdrawn from the course at the end of the race, "bat while the dogs are still in full pursuit.

In dog race tracks as they are at present constructed a railway on which a small electric truck travels, energized usually through a third rail. the rabbit being carried by an arm projecting from the truck. or switch leads from the track adjacent the stretch, serving as a den for the rabbit and a stat ion for the car when the latter is not in use, usually terminating in a tower in which the electric controls for the truck are installed and from which point they are operated. The railway track surrounding the course is generally housed within a shed or casing having a longitudinal slot: extending the length thereof adjacent; the ground, through which the arm carrying the rabbit. extends, said slot being of such height as to prevent escape by the dogs. At the point where the railway track debouches into the switch, the slot is expanded vertically to a sutlicient height to permit the withdrawal of the rabbit into the runway.

The size of this opening is necessarily such that it will permit passage of a dog as w ll. consequently it must be guarded by a door either automatically operated or mantended, which door is closed during the race, opens iuou'ieutarily to let the rabbit out, and closes again 'to prevent the dogs following the rabbit into the runway.

A race track constructed and operated according to these principles has at least two disadvantages, one being that the rabbit must be backed out of the runway on to point of the race in full sight of the dogs, and secondly, there is always a chance that the door guarding the runway will fail to opthat adog may follow the rabbit into the runway while going at full speed, piling himself into the end of the runway or lower, with resultant injury to the dog and loss to the owner or operator of the track. Since the value of track surrounds the A blind runway a fast dog is comparable to that of a race horse the importance of safeguarding the life and limb of the dog becomes at once apparent. I

My invention proposes an improvement over the present construction by providing a continuous loop instead of a blind switch and runway, the same communicating with the main track and course at the end of the home stretch, and also near the he inning of the back stretch so that the rabbit may be returned to the course on the back stretch and run to the starting point in the same direction as that in which the race is to be run. and providing a thoroughfare for a dog who may accidentally get past the door into the runway so that he will not be trapped in a blind alley, as heretofore, but may continue to run all the way through the loop and out upon the back stretch.

My invention is illustrated in the following drawings in which Figure l is a plan view of a race track constructed according to the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a section taken along the line 22 of Figure 1 showing the rabbit in the. act of emergence from the loop, and

Figure 3 is'a scale of a portion of the race track showing the point of juncture of one end of the loop with the main track and race course.

Referring now in detail to the several tigures, the numeral 1 represents the race course which is preferably rectilinear at the sides and circular at the ends, this being the usual shape of such courses, the race course being surrounded by a casingl'or shed the sides of which are indicated respectively by the reference characters 2 and 3. Within the shed runs a railway including traction plan view on an enlarged.

rails 4 and 5 and a third or electrically charged rail 6. The shed is provided on its inner side with a longitudinal slot 7 extending peripherally of the entire course, said slot icing of low height so as to preclude the possibility of a dog escaping therethroligh. A truck 8 travels on the traction rails, being driven by a motor 9 receiving current from the third rail through a trolley wheel 10. The truck carries an arm 11 projecting from one side thereof through the slot 7 and supporting-1 above the race course a stufl'ed rabbit orother suitable lure 12.

Ill)

As the truck travels around the race track. the lure is kept in sight of the dogs and the speed is so controlled that itremains in front of them throughout the entire duralion of the race.

At points 13 and 1 I have provided switches, the san'ie'iorining the ends of a continuous loop 15, the shed or casing being expanded in width so as to include the loop as well as the railway track at the end of the course. The switch 13 is controlled from a station or tower 16 preferably located adjacent the loop, and the speed of he truck is governed by control means also located at this point. he fixed in its relation to the rails 4 and 5. Openings i7 and 18 are provided in the shed adjacent the switches 1 and 1 the first named opening permittingthe escape of the rabbit and the other, its return to the back stretch of the race course. The opening 17 is guarded by. the door 19 which may be operated by any desired means.

In Figure l, the reference characters a and (1 denote stands, one being the judges stand at the finishing point of a race. When the race is over, but" while the dogs are in full pursuit of the lure, the door 19 is opened and the switch 13 operated to permit the truclc to enter upon the loop, the lure being witialrawn through the opening 17. The door 15) is then closed. The truck may be brought to a standstill at any point within the loop. Should a dog accidentally go through the opening- 17 on to the loop he may rlurpaslthe lure and out upon the back stretch without doing himself any injury. When it desired to return the lure to the track for another race, the truck is made to travel out upon the back stretch around to the starting point approaching the dogs in the same direction in which the race is to be run.

It to be understood that my invention does not concern itself with any of the details oi construction hcreinbe'lfore describet't, except as they inevitably relate to my novel loop by means of which the truck and lure are withdraw from the main race course iuljacent the end of the home stretch beyond the finishing line of the race, and returned again to the course on the back stretch.

Having described my invention what I The switch 14: may" claim. as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. in a race track for-dogs, a circuitous race course having a continuation on the form a loop which joins the main oi"- cnitous portion at separated points, and a circuitous railway for a lure-propelling motor, running parallel with the main circuitous portion of said course, said railway havinpa continuation in the form of a switch-controlled loop joining the main circuitous portion of said railway in operative adjacency to the ends of the loop por tion of said course.

2'. in a race track for dogs, a circuitous race course having a continuation in the form of loop which joins the main circuitous portion at separated. points, a circuitous railway for a lure-propelling motor, running parallel with the main circuitous portion of said course, said railway having a continuation in the form of a switch controlled loop joining the main circuitous portion of said railway in operative adjacency to the ends of the loop portion of said course, and a barrier extending around said track between said railway and the main circuitous portion of said course, said harrier being provided with openings respectively for the escape of said lure to said loop and its return to the main portion of the course.

In a race tracl; for dogs, circuitous race course having a continuation in the form or" a loop which joins the main circuitous portion at separated point, a cirruitous railway for a lure-propelling motor, running parallel with the main circuitous portion of said course, said railway having a continuation in the form of a switchcontrolled loop joining the main circuitous portion of said railway in operative adjarcncy to the ends of the loop portion of said. course, a barrier extending around said track between said railway and the main (,llQllitUllS portion of said course, said barrier being provided with openings respectively for the escape of said lure to said loop and its return to the main portion of the course, and a door controlling said escape openings.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LUSlON "l. THROCKMORTON. 

